69 posts categorized "Violence"

August 04, 2015

After experiencing increases in school violence over the last several years, school safety is at the forefront of public safety discussions in America. COPsync Inc. operates the nation's largest law enforcement information, communication, and data sharing network. COPsync has collaborated with the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), home to icon McGruff the Crime Dog®, to produce a new pilot project that showcases the COPsync911 threat alert system for schools.

The new NCPC and COPsync pilot program works with schools and law enforcement personnel to improve response time and enhance safety within schools. The COPsync911 system enables school personnel to automatically and silently send threat alerts from any school computer or mobile device directly to local law enforcement officers in their patrol cars in the event of a crisis.

The system also silently alerts other teachers in the school of the imminent danger. Responding officers and the local dispatch center can communicate in real-time with the persons under threat via a communications portal. The system is currently being used by approximately 720 schools and other facilities in Texas, California, Louisiana, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.

As part of the pilot program, COPsync will identify five to 10 school districts and five to 10 law enforcement agencies to conduct a test of the COPsync911 system. In addition, COPsync will promote the opportunity for customers to augment existing COPsync program materials with new training programs designed by NCPC and tailored to the customer’s specific needs.

The crime prevention expertise of NCPC combined with the brand recognition power of McGruff will showcase the ability of the COPsync911 system to protect schools, government buildings, and other facilities nationwide. COPsync911 utilizes a nationwide officer safety alert system, GPS/auto vehicle location and distance-based alerts for crimes in progress, such as school crisis situations, child abductions, bank robberies, and police pursuits. By using these features, the COPsync Network saves lives, reduces unsolved crimes, and assists in apprehending criminals and interdicting criminal behavior.

October 16, 2014

Not In Our Town is a movement to stop hate, address bullying, and build safe, inclusive communities for all. Students, parents, businesses, law enforcement, and the community all play a role in preventing hate crimes. This guest blog talks more about this important issue. The blog was featured originally on Edutopia.org and was written by Becki Cohn-Vargas, Director, Not In Our School at Not In Our Town.http://www.edutopia.org/blog/hate-is-4-letter-word-becki-cohn-vargas

When I was a district administrator, a parent called me, very distressed that a TIME for Kids article about 9-11 was being read in her fourth-grade child's classroom. She told me that she was sheltering her child from all news media. I responded that children need help making sense of tragedies, and that we shouldn't fool ourselves into thinking we can forever shelter them. Yet many educators prefer not to speak about hate. After all, it is sheer ugliness and not something we want to draw attention to in our schools. But hate needs to be examined. Why? Because it exists, and because it is especially prevalent among youth.

Educators are in a unique position to address these issues. To open the dialogue with young people about diversity and compassion, we must not be afraid to talk about hate.

When and How to Start Facing Hate

By fifth grade, children study Native Americans and the Civil War and must make meaning out of horrific historic events. Unlike the child above, who was sheltered, some have witnessed or directly experienced hateful acts, while others have seen them on the news, in movies, and video games.

Adults need to help youth make sense of these frightening things. Although there is often no other way to explain it than as hate, adults can balance brutal reality with a sensitivity to developmental levels, taking care not to raise anxiety. Explanations can actually calm fears by talking in understandable terms about how people can be mean to others while assuring children that many people are working to make a more accepting and safer world.

The focus can be on helping students become empathetic and compassionate while learning to appreciate differences. They can also work to create identity safe classroom environments, places where children of all backgrounds feel accepted and valued, and treat one another respectfully. Rather than sugar-coating history or ignoring hate, by naming it and explaining to children in a responsible way, we can guide young people toward engaging in efforts to make their community a place free of hate and bigotry.

Middle School and Beyond: Stop Hate Together

By sixth grade, students have become fully aware of history and the devastating power of hate that led to tragedies like the massacre of Native Americans, the brutality of slavery, and the genocide of the Holocaust. They now need even more support to analyze not only history, but also current events, whether it is a police officer killing an unarmed teenager and subsequent riots in Ferguson, Missouri or Christians crucified by terrorists in Iraq. Rather than ignoring these horrific scenes, educators can help students understand the roots of hate and bigotry and become proactive about preventing them in their own world. When exploring these issues, students have an opportunity to discuss provocative questions:

What can people do when hate rears its ugly head in a community?

What can schools do?

Is there room for a forgiving attitude?

What can be done to be proactive about avoiding hate?

Older students can dive deeper into these subjects by:

Learning skills of discourse with those who hold different opinions

Developing an understanding of different cultures and belief systems

Generating ways to spread kindness and respect.

Well-facilitated dialogue about news reports, films, and literature can open these conversations. Not In Our School, a program of Not In Our Town (NIOT), is dedicated to combat hate, bullying, and intolerance with over 70 free films and lesson plans featuring students taking action to address hate and bridge differences.

The new NIOT documentary Waking In Oak Creek (30 minutes, free to schools and communities) provides a powerful example of a how a community came together after six worshippers at a Sikh Temple were killed by a white supremacist. The accompanying lesson plan can also be used as a tool to explore identity safety, help students learn about Sikh culture and their attitude of forgiveness, or launch an anti-bullying campaign.

Engaging Parents in the Process

While recognizing parents' reluctance to teach about hate, educators can help them understand that avoiding all references to hate will not erase it from their children's lives. With the rare exception of the parent who attempted to totally shelter her children, in most cases it is not the schools that are exposing young people to the hate and violence in the world. Violence and hate are readily viewed on television, the internet, and movies everywhere, even in hotel and airport lobbies. Parents need to be invited into the conversation about the importance of addressing hate and all forms of intolerance, and join the school to take action in spreading kindness, compassion, and empathy.

As educators, it is incumbent upon us to prepare young people for the world that they are inheriting and give them tools to combat hate and work for a democratic and civil society. To start, we can open the conversation about forgiveness, compassion, and the importance of standing up.

June 09, 2014

An important part in reducing gang violence comes from street outreach programs throughout communities in the United States. Street workers can also be known as gang interventionists, street walkers, and gang outreach workers but they all work to reach out to youth and young adults in gangs. They strive to adapt violent and delinquent behavior; work with the gang member and their families; offer access to education, legal services, housing services, and mental health services; and act as a positive role model. While best practices of street outreach programs have not yet been established, outreach program practitioners have suggested successful aspects of current programs. These aspects include beginning with a structured program with well-defined goals, establishing clear roles and boundaries for outreach staff and law enforcement, and providing training for outreach staff and cross-training for law enforcement (National Gang Center Quarterly Newsletter - Fall 2013).

One effective program is StreetSafe Boston. The program “aims to contribute to a reduction of violence in Boston by focusing interventions on approximately 20 of the city’s most active gangs in neighborhoods disproportionately affected by gang violence.” The two core strategies are street level gang intervention and neighborhood-based service delivery. Street level gang intervention includes a team of highly trained Streetworkers that have street and community credibility to establish relationships with gang involved youth and influence them to engage in positive programs. The neighborhood-based service delivery provides case management and access to community-based services for youth involved in gangs. The organization also offers a transitional employment program, which gives participants an opportunity for on-the-job training and building life skills (www.bostonfoundation.org).

September 21, 2012

I have
been fortunate to conduct gang training throughout the United States on a
continuous basis since 1992. This includes a Basic Gangs course and an Advanced
Gang Investigations course. But I seem to fool quite a few people when
throughout the course of the training, which lasts anywhere from two to five
days, I talk about what you can do to help gang members who are calling out for
help.

Law enforcement
has the unique ability to gauge human beings in a nanosecond. This special
skill works in many phases for police officers, deputy sheriffs, state police,
correctional officers, and all facets of the criminal justice spectrum. But
this skill set is not always put to use, because, “Why would we want to help
gang members?” Gang members are the scourge of society; they hate police. That
is often true, but there are many who join gangs who desperately want out, and
the one person they see more than anyone other than their own gang members, is
a police officer.

Why do I
feel passionately about helping? It is our job! Growing up in Chicago, Illinois,
in the late 1950s to middle 1960s was no picnic. I grew up with and around gang
members. Many were my friends, and many were my enemies. I grew up disliking
police. In fact when the Chicago Police Department officers decided to run us
off street corners, they would deposit me at home and smile when they delivered
me to my father; a fate worse than death!

In 1963
I got into a fight with James Alexander, who was a Blackstone Ranger. I knew
James well, and because of my reputation for fighting, he decided to pull out a
knife. I took the knife from him and tried to stab him and missed, the knife
sticking in the ground. When the neighbors pulled me off him, the police came
to my house. Two Chicago Police youth officers, Jackie Thomas and Charles Inge
challenged me to come to the Hyde Park YMCA. I didn’t know why until my father
took me, and I saw they were black belts in Judo. My life changed. Several
things were learned from meeting them. They made me a better Judo player and person;
secondly, I learned police officers are really human beings. Thirdly, I majored
in Police Science (Criminal Justice today), and began my law enforcement career
in 1969, because I wanted to be like them; I wanted to give back.

Throughout
my career I have tried to give back. I have taken gang members into my Judo
clubs in Chicago (IL) and Prince George’s County (MD). I have coached kids who
joined my baseball teams, and told them, “It’s either the bandanna or the
baseball.” Most chose the baseball. I have and still mentor former gang
members. But this is not about me. It’s about them.

Criminal
justice professionals have an obligation to serve and protect, which includes
reaching out if the opportunity presents itself. Most gang members lack “life
skills,” which need to be given to them. Leadership skills are something that
criminal justice professionals possess, but going that extra mile and turning
those qualities into a positive outcome for a gang member or at-risk youth is
awesome!

When we
talk about gang prevention, the first topic is violence. I have always felt
strongly about community oriented policing and exercising community building.
The community needs to see police officers outside their cruisers; they need to
see police officers talk and feel comfortable within their own environment.
Police explorer programs are a great conduit to show the youth of America how
police departments work and how police officers tick. In the 1990s, I helped
launch the police explorer program in Prince George’s County (MD) with Captain W.
Grady Baker. Because of the dedication of numerous officers, many youth who
would have joined gangs, gone to jail, or been killed are now police officers.

There are
so many ways we can help. Many criminal justice professionals were and remain
athletes. Take your skills and teach or coach. Many are parents; take your
skills as a parent and show you care.

This is
not about saving the world, but William Bratton, former Chief LAPD said, “You
can’t always arrest your way out of a gang!”

Tony Avendorph
retired in 2009 after 40 years in law enforcement, serving with the Illinois
Department of Corrections, Los Angeles (CA) County Sheriff's Department, and
Prince George's County Police Department (MD). Tony is the President of Tony
Avendorph Associates, LLC.

July 09, 2012

Even though National Elder Abuse Awareness Day, June 15th, has passed, there is no need to put prevailing trends on the back burner. It takes knowledge and a good heart to help prevent crime of this nature. Elder abuse has been on the rise in many communities. In local communities across the country, Federal government agencies are teaming up with law enforcement and nonprofits to combat this growing trend. Just last year, the Federal government passed the Elder Justice Act that coordinates federal elder abuse detection and prevention programs within the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Unfortunately, it is estimated that millions of U.S. elders, from all walks of life, face abuse and neglect every year. Anyone can be victimized. However, there are things you can do to help protect yourself from abuse and neglect. “Family members are typically the abusers and are often the adult children or spouse of the victim”, said Mary Twomey, co-director of the National Center of Elder Abuse. There are many things that one can consider to assist in the prevention of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

State legislatures in all 50 states have passed some form of legislation in regards to elder abuse and adult protective services. Passed legislation that authorizes the state to protect and provide services to vulnerable, incapacitated, or disabled adults. In more than three-quarters of the states, the services are provided through the state social service department known as a Adult Protective Services. In the remaining states, the State Units on Aging have the major responsibility. Many signs can predict that elder abuse is taking place.

Unexplained or uncharacteristic changes in behavior, such as withdrawal from normal activities, unexplained changes in alertness, other

Home without adequate facilities (stove, refrigerator, heat, cooling, working plumbing, and electricity)

Some of the organizations, programs, and agencies that pursue prevention tactics are well known throughout the United States. Here are a few organizations that provide resourceful information:

The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) serves as a national resource center anything related to elder abuse, and additional prevention tips can be found via the NCEA.

The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program advocates for residents of nursing homes, board and care homes, assisted living facilities and similar adult care facilities. The Ombudsman Program is established in all states under the Older Americans Act, which is administered by the Administration on Aging, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The Foundation Aiding the Elderly (F.A.T.E.) a California non-profit organization seeks to serve as a voice for patients, bring about national reforms, and enforce the laws governing the nursing home industry and its regulatory agencies in order to assure proper care for the elderly in long-term care facilities.

The National Organization For Empowering Caregivers (NOFEC) is a non-profit New York-based organization whose stated mission is to provide assistance, education, support, and referrals for informal family caregivers, as well to promote public awareness about the realities of care giving.

The fact remains that when insufficient resources are provided, corners are cut and elders suffer. The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) encourages agencies, organizations, and individuals across the world to recognize this underreported issue and raise awareness about the mistreatment of seniors. Let this be a renewal of a life-long commitment to ending elder abuse in the United States. For further information and prevention tips on this crime please contact the NCPC@ncpc.org.

April 11, 2012

Many people across the United States understand gang violence or have been victimized by gang violence and activity in their neighborhoods and communities, but what is the effect on gangs and gang violence on business owners?

Gang violence is a critical social and economic issue and it extracts a high toll on the general public, as well as the business community. For example, in the city of Los Angeles alone, there are over 400 gangs with more than 39,000 members, according to the Violence Prevention Coalition of Greater Los Angeles. Imagine the effects that gang activity and violence has on the businesses where the gangs reside, and the impact it has on both potential investors and customers that patronize these businesses. Small businesses lose customers, which results in the loss of revenue, loss of funds due to theft, graffiti clean-up, and business restoration. If a gang decides to claim a territory as its own, this often puts fear into current and potential customers and prevents them from patronizing the business.

In addition to all the other negative effects of youth joining gangs, young people who become gang members are an economic burden to society. The cost of incarcerating gang members actually exceeds annual expenses at top private universities, which can total about $60,000 per student for tuition, room, and board. A modern estimate is that nearly 600,000 adult inmates arrive on the doorsteps of communities throughout the country each year (Petersilia, 2003, p. 3). More people are leaving prison today than at any other time in history, and many lack preparation for life on the outside, according to Petersilia’s study. Communities and businesses must redirect their resources to provide training for youth, so that gang members move from being institutionalized criminals of society, to college graduates and taxpayers of which we can be proud. A great example of this is Homeboy Industries. Homeboy Industries assists at-risk and former gang-involved youth to become positive and contributing members of society through job placement, training, and education (http://homeboy-industries.org). Gang-involved youth can transform from damaging the businesses in their neighborhoods, to one day perhaps owning one.

Another often overlooked cost of gang violence is the medical and financial consequences. The total volume of crime is estimated to cost Americans $655 billion each year (Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, 2004), and it is reasonable to assume that gangs are responsible for a substantial proportion. Gangs in the United States have long had a significant economic crime impact (Bureau of Justice Assistance, 1997; Valdez, 2000).

As is apparent in these statistics, gangs are a very dangerous and expensive problem to businesses and communities. There are strategies that can be undertaken to address this issue. One is for the businesses to unite and create a business crime watch. With businesses looking out for each other and reporting suspicious activity, they can let gang members know that their activity is unacceptable to the community. Couple business crime watch with involvement by all sectors of law enforcement; city, county, and state government; and community members working cohesively to develop strategies and short- and long-term goals to address gang violence, and that can help the community become a healthier place to live, work, and conduct business. For additional information on gang strategies, fact sheets, bulletins, and webinars, please visit NCPC’s gang prevention pages under resources or clickhere.

February 13, 2012

On February 14th, of course, we celebrate Valentine’s Day, a day set aside to celebrate and acknowledge those we love. February is also a time to be aware of love gone awry, especially among an increasing number of teens. In 2010, response to the millions of high school students nationwide who experience abuse from a dating partner each year, Congress designated each February as Teen Domestic Violence Month.

Teen domestic violence isn’t just about hitting. It also includes yelling, threatening, or acts of possessiveness or harassment, such as constant phone calling or paging. A recent proclamation by President Obama highlights the severity of the problem--one in 10 high school students nationally report abuse by a boyfriend or girlfriend. Even more high school girls (one in five) experience sexual abuse by a dating partner. When we add reports of verbal or emotional abuse, like shaming or threats, the number increases to one in three teens.

Teens who are in abusive relationships almost never (two out of three) tell anyone, and according to the research, victims of teen dating violence are more likely to abuse drugs, tobacco, or alcohol; have eating disorders; or even commit suicide.

Many of us involved in crime prevention have at some point in our careers been involved in educating and working to prevent domestic violence among adults. As practitioners, parents, community volunteers, and youth leaders, what are we doing to address this growing problem of domestic violence among youth in the United States? We would love to hear some of the strategies that you are using in your community to help address this problem.

February 06, 2012

The history of sexual assault was changed in 2012 when Attorney General Eric Holder authorized a revised definition of rape. The previous definition, created in 1927, was “the carnal knowledge of a female, forcibly and against her will.” This definition was limited in sex of the victim and the type of physical attack. The new definition is “the penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.” This definition, while more graphic than the previous one, covers the breath of possible victims as well as types of attacks.

First, by characterizing the victim as a person instead of a female, the new definition now includes men. The second change to note is the “without the consent” part of the definition. The previous definition indicated that rape was forcible and without consent, which is common in stranger rape, but is not always the case in acquaintance rape when a person is incapacitated. The new definition now includes victims that are influenced by drugs or alcohol, mental capacity, or age.

So what does this new definition mean? This definition will be used for the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report, which releases annual information on serious crimes committed in the United States. Since the new definition expands the category of victims and types of victimization, it allows for a more accurate reporting of the number of occurrences of rape each year.

All of the information in this blog came from the Department of Justice blog, which can be found here. For more information on rape and sexual assault, visit RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) at www.rainn.org.

August 22, 2011

A fitness buddy of mine had been missing from our Zumba classes for about a month. When she reappeared this week I asked what happened to her. She told me that she had been mugged in the parking lot near her home one night after class.

Fortunately, she was okay but had been terrified to go anywhere at night since the incident. As she shared the particulars from that terrifying night, one thing stuck out in my mind. She said they snuck up on her because they were lurking in the dark. “It wasn’t hard for them to hide since all but one light was burned out in my parking lot,” she said. Then she elaborated, “Several of my neighbors and I talked about how the homeowners’ association needed to fix the burned out lights but none of us ever followed up. I wish I had now.”

I thought about that statement in the context of our slogan, “Take A Bite Out Of Crime®.” It’s meant to remind us that each one of us can (and should) do something to help prevent crime. In this case I couldn’t help but wonder if just one of those neighbors or my fitness buddy had followed up on the lights problem, the thugs might not have been able to attack so easily. In one of our PSAs McGruff said, “All crime needs is a chance. Don’t give it the chance.” Those are good words to live by.

We’ll never know if the lighting would have deterred the opportunistic criminals but lighting up the night might have reduced their chance to pounce on an unwitting victim. Please remember this story the next time you see lights out in your neighborhood. Don’t give criminals a chance to claim another victim.

Download home and personal safety tips from NCPC in the resources section of our website.

Note: Thanks to great work by our local police department, the muggers were apprehended recently.

April 04, 2011

Dating violence is not as rare as people may believe. Dating violence is a viscous cycle that not only affects adults but also affects teens as well. One in 5 teens today say that he or she has been or know a friend who has been a victim of dating violence. Dating violence consists of verbal, emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. It is a pattern of abusive behaviors used to exert power and control over a dating partner. By the time physical abuse is present, a pattern of verbal and emotional abuse has already been established.

Dating violence has to be taken seriously. If not confronted, it can ultimately affect the rest of a young person’s life by setting a pattern of dating violent partners. The longer a teen stays in a violent relationship the more likely he or she will be confused about what constitutes a healthy relationship. As parents, you should talk to your child about dating violence.

AS A PARENT WHAT CAN I DO?

The first thing you should do as a parent is set an example. Children learn how to conduct themselves in relationship by observing their parents. Displaying positive and healthy relationships will help them judge what is appropriate behavior. Another thing you can do is talk to them early about dating violence, explain to them what a healthy and respectful relationship looks like. Let them know that if they ever find themselves in a violent relationship, that they are not to blame. Assure them that they can talk to you and that you are there to help them have a safe and happy life.

WHAT ARE THE WARNING SIGNS?

Your child makes excuses and apologies for his or her partner’s behaviors.

She or he often has unexplained injuries, such as bruises or body pain, that can’t be explained or seem not to make sense.

Your child seems to be distancing him or herself from family and friends, becomes isolated, and deals only with his or her partner.

Your child’s dating partner constantly texts or calls and demands to know who he or she has been with.

You find that your child is changing his or her behavior in order not to anger or upset his or her partner.

Your child changes the way he or she dresses in order to please his or her partner.

When your child’s dating partner seems to put her down and call her names in front of others.

Your child’s partner acts extremely jealous of others who pay attention to him or her, especially members of the opposite sex.

Your child is frequently upset or depressed and seems withdrawn and quiet but won’t explain why.

TEN TIPS TO HELP YOUR TEEN

Educate yourself on teen dating violence and access resources that will help you begin the discussion with your teen about dating violence. Articles and brochures can help you approach your teen in an effective manner.

Talk to your teen about dating violence early. If your teen seems already to be in a dangerous relationship, assure her that she is not to blame for her partner’s behavior and that you’re there to help.

Listen to your teen when he or she approaches you about dating abuse. Explain that you are going to help him or her get out of the situation.

Emphasize that when he or she wants help, it is available. Let your child know that domestic violence tends to get worse and become more frequent with time and that it rarely goes away on its own.

Work with your teen to identify resources that will help provide emotional support and build self esteem.

Try to avoid the impulse to rescue your teen; instead empower him or her. Let him or her know that you will be there to help sort through feelings but you won’t make decisions for him or her.

Look for opportunities to increase your child’s self-esteem. People who believe in themselves and their own worth are better able to believe in the worth of their partner.

Be realistic when talking to your teen. Teenagers often have a false picture of romantic relationships. Explain that every relationship has its up and downs. Talk about effective ways of dealing with conflict, such as negotiation, problem solving, and communication.

Share your standards. Talk to your teen about the way he or she should treat and respect others; furthermore, explain how you feel he or she should be treated in return.

Create an open environment. Be open to all of the questions that your child asks. Don’t criticize, judge, or jump to conclusions when he or she asks about relationships.

WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

Contact your child’s school and ask about introducing programs that teach children about dating violence and relationships.

Work with the art teacher or art students to create a visual statement against dating abuse. Consider a poster contest or other project that can be displayed at the school.

Encourage the school to obtain free materials and resources that relate to dating violence.